Google UK MD to launch FinTech incubator

Dan Cobley, the UK Managing Director and European Marketing Vice President of Google, has revealed that he will be leaving the company after 8 years to lead a new financial technology incubator in London.

Cobley will become CEO of Brightbridge Capital, which will seek to create a string of smaller companies that offer an alternative to bank funding, focusing on smart use of internet technology to deliver their services. The FinTech incubator is a joint initiative between Cobley, venture capitalists Blenheim Chalcot and QED Investors.

QED’s Managing Partner, Capital One founder Nigel Morris, will also act as Chairman of Brightbridge. Commenting on his decision, Cobley said: “The decision to leave Google is a really tough one, and I will miss the place hugely. But I have always wanted to run my own thing, and having secured the support of such amazing backers there will never be a better time to make the leap.”

Brightbridge Capital will be based at Blenheim Chalcot’s Hammersmith HQ, joining a string of technology-driven financial companies that the VC has invested in, including Grove Capital Management, Oakbrook Finance, Liberis and TDX Group.